Top Trends in Nigerian Acadmic Institutions Affecting Academic Libraries

IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 21, Issue 2, Ver. I (Feb. 2016) PP 60-64 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org Top Trends in Nigerian Acadmic Institutions Affecting Academic Libraries Hadiza T. Mohammed Phd. [email protected] College Librarian, Federal College Of Education, Zaria Abstract: The paper discusses the evolution of higher education in Nigeria. Concept of academic libraries were highlighted, lists the trends in higher institutions that affected academic libraries highlighted. Trends such as fact of funds, demand for higher education, enrolments, information technology, Digital preservation, Mobile technology and Patron driven e-book acquisition being discussed fully. The paper provided solutions hand recommendation. I. Introduction Historical Evolution of Academic Institutions in Nigeria The early history of higher education in Nigeria would be incomplete w ithout reference to the Yaba Higher College which later became the Yaba College of Technology. Later on few advanced Teachers‟ College and Polytechnics were started and in 1948, the University College, Ibadan came into being with only 104 students and 13 instructors. In 1962, the number of universities rose to five, these include University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, University of Lagos, University of Nsukka and the University of Ife. The last four are known as the second generation of Universities. By 1975, the number of universities had again risen to thirteen including University of Illorin, Bayero University, University of Maiduguri etc. These are called the third generation of universities. By 1980, we to have the state universities. Today there are thirty-six universities. I would like to ass here that the development of some these state universities are political and even people are still demanding for more. As the universities continue to increase certainly there have to be changes and problems in the system. II. Academic Library The librarians‟ Glossary of terms defines it as the one in the university, university colleges and all other institutions forming part of, or associated with, institutions of higher education. Academic libraries are libraries attached to tertiary institutions such a universities, polytechnic institutions, colleges of education, colleges of agriculture, colleges of technology and also research institutes (Akporhonor, 2005). Singh and Kaur (2009) stressed that preservation and access to knowledge and information is the main mandate of academic libraries along side supporting the mission of their parent institutions which is teaching and research. AIA World Encyclopedia of Library and Information Services (1986) describes a university library as an integral part of the institution it serves, it designs its collections and services to meet the instructional programmes of the particular institution. It goes further to say that in some countries, particularly in the Third World, university libraries have a responsibility to serve as national libraries in addition to the role service to the faculty and students of the institutions and they play leading roles in national library development. A library in an academic institution is usually an integral part of such an institution to the extent that the allusion is often made to the effect that a library is the „heart‟ of the academic institution. It is a component part of the institution in that it exists to further the objectives of its parent establishment. In other words, the realization of any academic institution‟s goals and objectives will remain difficult until and unless its library is made most functionally efficient. This will manifest in the numerous services it provides to its group of users. This is the primary goal of its existence, i.e helping to accomplish the overall goals of its parent institution. Anything short of this become counter-productive to the attainment of the institution‟s set objective. It is in the above respect that libraries in our various colleges of Education, Polytechnics and of course, universities are being considered here. They exist mainly to cater for the varies needs of its community which includes the students, faculty members and the administrative staff. Due to the global economic recession which is taking its toll on virtually every facet of human life a number of factors tend to affect academic libraries in general. Some of these include the lack or sometimes absence of funds, demand for higher education and school evolvements. These will now be discussed one after the other. DOI: 10.9790/0837-21216064 www.iosrjournals.org 60 | Page Top Trends In Nigerian Acadmic Institutions Affecting Academic Libraries III. Lack Of Funds The general downward trend in world economy has its manifestation in every sphere of human endeavour. Academic this, since their budgetary allocations were never spared from the impact of the crunch. The dwindling financial fortunes of these institutions‟ libraries against the backdrop of the fact that most of the needed materials are foreign put them in a different position especially as it relates to their existence and operations. The old good days of fat budgetary allocation combined with huge foreign reserves contrast sharply to the unfortunate situations of the present time. Since these economic conditions affect these libraries, their services performances have also been drastically affected. It is quite instructive to mention also that the situation of inadequate funds for these libraries has multiplying effects on the entire spheres of the libraries operations. Not only will it pose the problem of insufficient/irrelevant materials collection, the morale of its staff stands to be a negatively affected too, while the performance cannot be affected on the long run. This, in turn will hamper the realization of the institutions‟ objectives as well. The university library, for example, derives funds through the university whose sources of financial support are government grants, private contributions and gifts, endowments, students‟ fees, investments and consultancy. Direct collection of funds by the library may come from sources such as photocopying proceeds, fines for overdue books, sale of duplicates and charge for loan of special items (Nwafor 1990) . “Funding for university libraries in the third World” cited the University of Jos Library as an example. It said, “The University of Jos Library is one that has to accept a decreasing allocation for example, the total budget in the fiscal year 1985/86 was N1,036,648; in the following year, it was N766,828. One effect was the reduction of overseas journal subscriptions from about 2,000 to 200 titles” In the same article, the university College Hospital Ibadan was said to have ceased acquiring periodicals and textbooks in 1985 and the National University Commission reported in 1987 that some libraries had no journal issue after 1984. Ike (1988) in a paper presentation “Budgeting in university libraries: strategies for survival by Nigerian Academic Libraries” said from her own experience that many Nigeria academic and research libraries have not just become underfunded but appear usually to be the first units to suffer reduced budgets during times of financial difficulties in their parent institutions. IV. Demand For Higher Education In the days gone by there used to be quite a little demand for, at least, higher education in Nigeria, due mainly to the then stable and buoyant economic situation. Of course, jobs were amply available at virtually all levels with little or no stress to get. The demand for higher education as a pre-condition for securing good jobs did not simply arise. This was so to a great extent that only a few did care and actually undertake the higher form of education. The stable nature of the economy then did not require that one must necessarily obtain a higher degree, hence, the low level of need for higher education. This is, however, in contrast to what now obtains in the entire sphere of education where the higher level of education is prerequisite for any good job anywhere in the country. We all are living witnesses to this trend as most people are literally “forced” back to schools in pursuit of higher education not really of their own will. The impact of this trend on academic institutions‟ libraries cannot be doubted as with it comes more and even higher demand from these libraries. V. Digital Preservation As digital collections mature, concerns grow about the general lack of long-term planning for their preservation. No strategic leadership for establishing architecture, policy, or standards for creating, accessing, and preserving digital content is likely to emerge in the near term. Academic libraries will “increasingly focus on distinctive and unique collections in service to regional and national scholarly audiences. James G. Neal(2011) Many of these collections, particularly those that include rare or unique content or institution- specific materials such as university records and grey literature, are or will be digitized. OCLC Research reports that 97% of the 169 research libraries in the United States and Canada with special collections surveyed have “completed one or more digitization projects and/or have an active program.” Jackie M. Dooley (2010) However, local digital collections are at risk when the individual institution lacks a comprehensive preservation plan. Most institutions, according to a Portico and Cornell University Library report, are only beginning

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